EDITOR: Thank you, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Chancellor Bernie Patterson, for your recent article, "Working to ease impact of budget cuts." The article was informative, non-threatening and calming. Your comments contained logical approaches to cut spending, to continue quality education for those who attend UWSP while at the same time providing relief to Wisconsin's taxpayers.

In my opinion, this quotation is at the core of the article: "University leaders have long endorsed the need to operate more like a business."

Voluntary separations, cost containment along with fiscal responsibility and stewardship are not new concepts in the private business world. Large and small businesses are continually cutting budgets, restructuring and reorganizing to be competitive and to stay current with changing technical needs, all of which are required to remain profitable. As was stated, "The willingness to speak, to listen, to respect differences and have civil discourse, leads to more informed decisions."

The sky is not falling. Wisconsin is not doomed. Our educational system is and will continue to be highly ranked, per information contained in research articles and data reported by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Change can provide the impetus for positive improvements and progress. Socrates said, "The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old but building the new."